Graveney unhappy with Ashes schedule: report

London: England cricket boss David Graveney said he is unhappy at England's tour schedule for 2002 Ashes trip to Australia, the 'Mail' on Sunday reported.

Chairman of selectors Graveney was not impressed that the Test and One-day International series are intertwined, with the third and fourth Test matches being split up by a triangular series also including Sri Lanka. He said, "I'm very surprised that the tour has been split up in this way. I was under the belief that we would never again go down that path and that all future Tests and One-day tournaments would be played en bloc. "I understand the financial implications but it has been proved that playing back-to- back Tests and One-day matches greatly increases the chances of injury." With a hectic summer schedule being followed by a punishing tour Down Under and then the World Cup in 2003, Graveney also fears his players could suffer from playing too much cricket. He added, "I have pointed out to Malcolm speed, the chief executive of the ICC, at every opportunity the dangers of burn-out for the top players in world cricket. "Such a quantity of cricket means the quality is bound to suffer."